Refunds at NBC?
MediaWeek’s John Consoli writes about advertising refunds being given out by NBC…
NBC has quietly begun reimbursing advertisers for fourth-quarter prime-time ratings shortfalls, averaging about $500,000 per advertiser, according to media buyers, marking the first time in years a network has taken such a step to compensate marketers for ratings deficiencies.
Buyers said NBC is offering cash back to advertisers looking to get ads on the air before Christmas. Marketers cannot get makegoods, as the network has none to give. In fact, no broadcast net has much ad inventory left between now and year’s end—except for, perhaps, a handful of units the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and that doesn’t do much for advertisers chasing holiday shoppers.
A disaster to NBC, anyway you look at it. Time for those at the top to reflect on what went wrong. Bill O’Reilly may be smiling (or smirking.) He gave NBC the clue to why it’s failing.
Comment by RGL — December 10, 2007 @ 10:40 am
Baloney…
Comment by Spud — December 10, 2007 @ 11:29 am
NBC’s 4th place rankings and its continued attempts to attract the much loathed “left wing dirtbag demographic” has caused this for this once great network. NBC- No Body Cares
Comment by tommyboy71 — December 10, 2007 @ 11:48 am
More baloney. What happens on the entertainment end has no bearing on what happens with News.
Comment by Spud — December 10, 2007 @ 11:53 am
Really, Spud? You mean NBC’s decision not to run a patriotic ad last week because it listed a website, then changing their minds out of the blue, didn’t happen because of their balooning reputation as a group of left wing idiots? Give me a break and wake up.
Comment by tommyboy71 — December 10, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
Is Spud a one-word wonder? Is he a toady, a lackey, or stooge for NBC? You can choose the best one word.
Comment by RGL — December 10, 2007 @ 1:11 pm
NBC owes all of us refunds for subjecting viewers to endless garbage and never ending efforts to convince us that Republicans are evil and global warming is an indisputable fact. They are an absolute joke, and their ratings reflect just how little America cares about it or its ridiculous babble.
Comment by tommyboy71 — December 10, 2007 @ 1:59 pm
I get what you’re saying Spud… my question is, how much of these “refunds” are needed as a result of MSNBC… and how many are needed as a result of NBC’s other properties?
In other words, where were the estimates so far off, that they need to do this?
But you’ve got to admit, this is pretty serious stuff. Usually when a network makes a mistake like this, or any other mistake involving a paid spot… they do some “make goods” and they’re okay. They’ll run the spot a few extra times… run the spot in a prime location… whatever. But apparently, that’s not an option… which says to me, either they are unwilling to make good on the spots and move it to a higher rated location… or they are simply unable. Either way, not good at all.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 10, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
None are due to MSNBC as far as I know. The problem is NBC Entertainment and that’s where those refunds are coming from.
Really, Spud? You mean NBC’s decision not to run a patriotic ad last week because it listed a website, then changing their minds out of the blue, didn’t happen because of their balooning reputation as a group of left wing idiots? Give me a break and wake up.
Get a clue. This isn’t about political ideology. You think the advertisers care about political ideology? You think the viewers who tune out of Heroes because of a weak story arc or Bionic Woman because it was just plain bad or whatever show you care to name, do so because of political ideology? It’s because of the ratings downturn at NBC that these refunds are happening.
You people need to stop trying to desperately tie everything that happens on MSNBC primetime to everything else that happens at any NBC property. O’Reilly’s been trying to do it for over a year and he’s gotten nowhere. There is no connection or correlation.
Comment by Spud — December 10, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Get a clue. This isn’t about political ideology. You think the advertisers care about political ideology?
Yea, but the viewers do. Some of the shows I’ve watched for years on NBC all have been puting political hot topics in their shows. IE torture, immigration, you name it.
Comment by kbass — December 10, 2007 @ 3:28 pm
Exactly right, kbass. NBC has made a religion out of trying to impose its lefty-loony views on viewers through its prime time entertainment programming…and not just on MSNBC, Spud. NBC- stop trying to indoctrinate us with your BS and just entertain us. Bring back quality shows like Seinfeld and Frasier…well written and devoid of political messages. Then, maybe then, we’ll start watching again.
Comment by tommyboy71 — December 10, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
The Atheist empire crumbles!
Comment by Shane — December 10, 2007 @ 3:54 pm
Yea, but the viewers do. Some of the shows I’ve watched for years on NBC all have been puting political hot topics in their shows. IE torture, immigration, you name it.
You are making an honest mistake here but a mistake nontheless. You are confusing topicality and current events with some liberal plot. It’s common TV practice to use current events as a backdrop for primtime programming. It’s been going on for as long as TV has been on the air.
In order to establish a conspiracy you have to show intent. What you have shown is conjecture, which may or may not be true (I say it’s not true but I’ll be fair and at least acknowledge opposing points of view on the matter). You haven’t shown that there is some fundamental intent here to shove some far left view down the viewers throat at the Network Entertainment level. Simply becuase your own ideology doesn’t mesh with what you’re seeing isn’t reason enough.
I don’t care about ideology. I don’t care if you’re liberal or conservative. Ideology doesn’t concern this blog. All I care about is what you can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. So if you want to make an argument stick with me you need to come at me with facts and figures that can’t be dismissed. Who knows? You might even persuade me that I’m wrong. It’s been known to happen.
But, if you come at me with hyperbole, rhetoric, and talking points (whether they’re liberal or conservative tlaking points doesn’t matter), I’ll shoot you down every time.
Comment by Spud — December 10, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
Bring back quality shows like Seinfeld and Frasier…well written and devoid of political messages.
You seriously think that Seinfeld and Frasier were DEVOID of political messages? OMG!
Comment by Spud — December 10, 2007 @ 4:38 pm
I think Seinfeld and Frasier were great shows. But, the NBC days of good shows are over. They have made a lot of bad mistakes. Like canceling Third Watch.
Comment by Aaron — December 10, 2007 @ 5:28 pm
Third Watch was a great show… but I suspect it was too expensive to produce, with an audience that wasn’t as big as they would have liked. That’s why in those later seasons, they focused more on the police and EMTs… and less on the fire department. Those cost less than a big fire scene.
Either way, still a great show… and I think A&E still shows it late late at night.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 10, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
Not a NBC property but I’m getting disgusted watching Weeds more and more. Bush bashing, Military bashing, Christian bashing, pro-life bashing and I know I’m missing more.
Comment by Lurker — December 10, 2007 @ 6:10 pm
ImNotBlue, I loved Third Watch! Especially Kim Raver! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Anyway, that really sucked when they booted that show.
Comment by Terance — December 10, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
The right can, and has, bashed all networks for scandalous programming, from FOX’s Skin, ABC’s Desperate Houswives/Sally Field; CBS’s Victoria’s Secret special and Super Bowl uncoverage of Janet Jackson. Even PBS on occasion. NBC’s problem is that Jeff Zucker has continually been promoted up the ladder where his bad decisions become more magnified as gain broader reach. Remember “Good Morning Miami?, a romantic comedy about a morning show exec producer who hooks up with a young cutie? Ugh.
Comment by DanOregon — December 10, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
Kim Raver… really? I find myself hoping that a terrorist gets to her on “24″ more and more. She’s just so whiney… and always has that wet dog look about her. But perhaps I’m just picky.
Comment by ImNotBlue — December 11, 2007 @ 2:17 am
I’ve never watched 24.. I think Kim portrayed a believable and interesting character on Third Watch.
Comment by Terance — December 11, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Possible the boycott of NBC programming by 5 mil Imus fans had something to do with it. Probably a coinicidence. Check rv drops since 4/12/07.
Comment by Rich — December 11, 2007 @ 11:41 am
What about the whole “Green Week” on NBC? In every show they had a story line around going green. My God, they did their football halftime show by candlelight. WTF!!!!!
Like the person said earlier, the advertisers might not care about content but, the viewers are the ones boycotting NBC news and entertainment. When NBC and MSNBC started showing their true colors, I stopped watching all the shows on NBC that I had watched for years, not just the news. I think a lot of people have done the same.
Comment by shannon20 — December 11, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
when NBC starts backing their talent, advertisers will return. Bank on that.
Comment by Rich — December 11, 2007 @ 5:32 pm
I am only one; however, I cannot tell you what is currently on NBC because I stopped watching in April.
Comment by Jane — December 11, 2007 @ 6:51 pm
What about the whole “Green Week” on NBC? In every show they had a story line around going green. My God, they did their football halftime show by candlelight. WTF!!!!!
I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO FREAKED OUT ABOUT THAT!!!!!
Comment by Harley — December 11, 2007 @ 6:52 pm